Suction cleaner



June 6, 1933.

J. W. WOLFE sUcTIoN CLEANER l Filled sept. 9, 1932 Patented .lune 6, 1933 UNITEDSTATEs P ATENT- ori-"ics JOHN W. WOLFE, OTE'y CANTON, OHIO, A'SSIGNOB TO THE UNITED ELECTRIC CORPORATION,

Ol' CANTON, OHIO, A. CORPORATION 0F OHIO sUc'rIoN ummm The invention relates in general to suction cleaners, and in particular to agitating and sweeping means located in the suction nozzle of the cleaner for beating the floor .covering as the nozzle passes thereover.

It is obviously desirable for general purpose to provide sweeping means vas we l as agitating means within the nozzle, for removing lint, threads and the like from the surface of the floor covering. In the past, certain suction cleaners have been provided with a rotary member having both beating and sweeping means thereon, but with that arrangement the beating and sweeping emciency of the rotary member is necessarily much lower than if these functions are performed by separate elements.

It is therefore an object of the present invention, to provide -a suction cleaner having 'adjacent non-interfering relation to the' separate means for beating and sweeping a t Hoor covering.

Another object is to position the agitating and sweeping means within the suction nozzle of the cleaner in such a way as to perform their respective functions in the most eicient manner. 1

A further object is to drive both the agitating and sweeping means from the motor of the suction cleaner.

Another object is tov provide agitatin and sweeping means which are positione and designed so as not to detract materially from the amount of suction acting upon the floor covering by greatly increasing the size of the suction nozzle.

A still further object is to provide ltating-means adapted 'to Hbe located in c osely sweepingmeans, the agitating means being so designed as to strike a series of-abrupt blows upon the floor covering.

And finally, it is an object of the present' invention to embody all of the foregoing objectives in a simple and light weight construction, which is extremely economical to manufacture. l

These and other objects are attained by the improvements comprising the present invention, which may be-stated in general terms asl including in a suction cleaner having a suction nozzle and a motor, a brush member rotatably mounted in the suction nozzle, an agltator bar preferably locatedin front of the brush and having in cross section a relaf tively small oblong shape with rounded ends, and means operatively connecting the brush member and the agitator bar to the motor.

Referring to the drawing forming part hereof, l,

Figure lis a fragmentary plan view of a suction'cleaner embodying my invention, as on line 1-1, Fig. 2, parts of the nozzle being broken away; Y

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side view, partially in section and artially in elevation, taken substantially on ine 22, Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectlonal view, as on line 3 3, Fig. 1.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

. In thv drawing 10 represents the motor 'of a suction cleaner embodying my lnven- 1 tion, the shaft 11 of the motor extending through the fan chamber 12, in which theusual suction fan 13 is located, being secured upon the motor shaft 11.

The suction nozzle, indicated at 14`is located adjacent to the fan chamber 12 and communicates therewith through the passagewa 15 and aperture 15. The usual dust co lecting bag 16, is detachably secured to. the exhaust end 17 of the fan housing, in a well known manner.

The suction cleaner is rollabl supported upon the floor covering 18 by ont rollers 19 and the rear roller 20, in such a manner that the bottom of the nozzle is positioned a substantial distance above the floor coverlhe nozzle 14 is formed by the end walls 21, and the top and' front `wall member 23.

The improved sweeping means and beating or agitating means are located within the.

nozz

The sweeping means comprises the rotatable brush 24, having the circumferentially arranged bristles 25 u on the shaft 26, and the shaft is journale at the end walls 21 in bearin \27, which may be bronze bushings. The rush should 4have a substantial [the carpet sharply and abruptly outer diameter, providing a relatively large area for elliciently sweeplng the floor covering. Accordingly, the rush 24 preferably has an outer diameter substantially equal to the depth of the nozzle 14. The brush shaft 26 is preferably provided at its central portion with a pulley 28, and a'flexible belt 29 preferabl operatively connects' thepul ley 28 with t e motor shaft 11.

The improved agitating means preferably includes the agitator bar 30, which is rotatably mounted in the nozzle 14 in front of and closely adjacent to the brush 24. The agitator bar 30 preferably has a pulley p0rtion 31 at or near its central portion, and a flexible belt 32 operatively connects the bar 30 to the brush shaft 26, so that the agitator bar is driven from the motor 10.

The portion of the agitator bar 30 at each side of the pulley 31 preferably has in cross section an oblong shape with rounded ends, as best shown in Fig. 2. By making the bar 30 small relative to the brush 24, that is, by making the greatest cross sectional dimension of the bar materially less than the greatest cross sectional dimension or the outer diameter of the brush 24, two very important advantages are realized. A

First, the agitator bar may be located closely adjacent to the brush in non-interfering relation thereto, so that the nozzle `arearIls not increased to an extent which detracts from the amount of suction acting upon the door covering, when the same is sucked up against the nozzle by the aircurrent supplied by the motor.

Second, when the agitator bar is rotated it will strike a series of abrupt blows uponthe floor covering, because the rounded ends of the bar travel a small arcuate path and strike the iioor covering more directly, and theret fore more suddenl and sharply than if the bar were larger. f the bar were larger, the striking portions thereof would travel a rgreater arcuate path and strike the 'Hoor coverin more nearly tangentially;

In ot er words, when the'bar 30 is made relatively small, the ends thereof will strike to give a positive beating action, whereas, a larger bar would give more of a wiping action, resulting in a marked decrease of beating efficiency.

The outer ends of the agitator are journalled in bearings 34, which may be bronze bushings similar to the bearings 27. At each end of the nozzle 14, the bearing 34 is mounted in one end of a plate 35, which has its Iother end pivotally secured to the adjacent end wall 21, as at 36. At its bottom edge'v each plate 35 is preferably provided with an outturne'd flange 35 fitting under the adjacent end wall 2l, for limiting the upward movement of the plate into the nozzle.

The bearings 34 and 27 at each end of the nozzle are mounted in a plate 37 located-inside of the plate 35 at that end of the nozzle.

. with the plates 35 and 37 and connector bar 39, provides a brush and agitator assembly,

which, when the belts are disconnected, may Y be swung downwardly about pivots 36 out of the nozzle, a notch 40 being provided in each plate 35 for fitting around the rear lip 41 of the nozzle.

In operative position, the brush and agitator assembly is held in the nozzle'by the' pull of belts 29 and 32, the flanges 35 abutting the bottom edges of nozzle end walls- 21. As the brush becomes worn off. it may be lowered relative to the nozzle and to the/agitator bar by entering the pin 38 of each plate 37 in another of the holes 38 provided in plates 35, the plates 37 pivoting at bearings 34. t i

Itis well known that the bulk of the work done, by a suction cleaner is accompllshed during its forward movement, the rearward movement thereof coinciding with or considerably overlapping the next preceding forward movement. Consequently, by locating the agitator bar in front of they brush, the highest possible cleaning efficiency is obtained, because the portion of the carpet immediately in front of the brush -is agitated to loosen,lint, threads and the like which are picked up by the brush, as well as all other dirt which is immediately sucked up by the nozzle. f

The present improved construction is simple and ylight in weight, and economical of manufacture.

1. In a suction cleaner having a suction nozzle and a motor, a rotatable brush journaled in the nozzle and having an outer diameter substantially equal to the depth thereof, an agitator bar having a portion shaped oblong with rounded ends in cross section, said agltator bar being rotatably mounted in the nozzlevin front of and closely adjacent to the brush the greatest cross sectional dimension of the agitator bar being materially less than the outer diameter ofthe brush and means operatlvely connecting the brush and agitator bar to the motor.

2. In a suction cleaner havin a suction nozzle and a motor, a rotatable rush journaled in the nozzle, an agitator member rotatably mounted in the nozzle in closely adj acent non-interfering relation to the brush, the greatest cross sectional dimension of the agitator member being materially less than vus the greatest cross sectional dimension of the rotatable brush, and means operatively connecting the brush and agitator member to the motor.

3. In a suctioncleaner havinr a suction nozzle and a. motor, a rotatable lbrush journaled in the nozzle, an agitator bar of small cross sectional size relative to the brush and having a portion shaped oblong with rounded ends in cross section and rotatably mounted in closely adjacent non-interferm relation to the brush, and means operative y connecting the brush and the agitator bar to the motor.

4. In a suction cleaner having a suction nozzle and a motor, a brush rotatably mounted in the nozzle, an agitator of small cross sectional size relative to the brush rotatably mounted in the nozzle closely adjacent -to the t v brush, and means operatively connecting the n brush and agitator to the motor.

In testimony that I claim the above, I have hereunto subscribed m name.

J HN W. WOLFE. 

